2008 Toyota HIGHLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
403 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
77,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 311 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 66 of 403 complaints (16.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 120 | 29.8% |
| Steering behavior | 43 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 22 | 5.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 66 |
| Engine | 58 |
| Air Bags | 55 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 42 |
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Steering | 40 |
| Tires | 23 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
Service Brakes: 66; Engine: 58; Air Bags: 55; Vehicle Speed Control: 42; Electrical System: 41; Steering: 40; Tires: 23; Unknown Or Other: 16
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 64 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 40 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 49 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 46 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 74 |
| 150,000 and above | 38 |
Under 25,000: 64; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 49; 75,000 to 99,999: 46; 100,000 to 149,999: 74; 150,000 and above: 38
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (74). 92 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 17 |
| 2010 | 72 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 39 |
| 2014 | 43 |
| 2015 | 32 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2020 | 26 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 7; 2009: 17; 2010: 72; 2011: 19; 2012: 17; 2013: 39; 2014: 43; 2015: 32; 2016: 15; 2017: 16; 2018: 17; 2019: 26; 2020: 26; 2021: 14; 2022: 16; 2023: 8; 2024: 12; 2025: 5; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 120 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 22 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10224632 · 2008-04-15 (April 15, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT LEASES A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID STRIKING OTHER VEHICLES. HE THEN HEARD A LOUD BANG. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AXLE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256300 · 2009-01-25 (January 25, 2009)
THE BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/L400 (NOT H/L 683 OR 684 II AS LISTED IN THE CHOICES FOR THIS TIRE ON THIS WEB SITE!!!!!) TIRES ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ARE TERRIBLY UNSAFE IN ALL CONDITIONS OTHER THAN DRY ROADS. THEY HYDROPLANE IN THE RAIN, THE REAR END SLIDES IN ALL TYPES OF SNOWY CONDITIONS, CAUSING THE STABILITY CONTROL TO KICK IN AND COMPENSATE, AND THEY REQUIRE FREQUENT TOPPING OFF OF THE AIR PRESSURE, MORE SO THAN ANY TIRE ON ANY VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED. THIS TIRE IS GETTING TERRIBLE REVIEWS ON TIRERACK.COM FROM CURRENT OWNERS OF MAZDA …
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10291016 · 2009-11-04 (November 4, 2009)
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED. AFTER DRIVING 25K MILES, I NOTICED A VIBRATION IN MY STEERING. I THEN NOTICED MY TIRES TREAD ON ALL 4 TIRES WORN DOWN TO ALMOST 2/32" OF TREAD DEPTH REMAINING. I HAVE ORIGINAL TIRES: OPEN COUNTRY A20 P 245/55R19 103S. I CALLED TOYO TIRE CONSUMER RELATIONS DEPT. AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO MILEAGE WARRANTY ON THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THEY OFFER 30% DISCOUNT ON NEW SET OF TIRES INSTALLED AT TIRE DEALER CENTER. NEW TIRES, AFTER DISCOUNT WILL COST ABOUT $900, BUT THEY ON THE BACK ORDER AND BECOME AVAILABLE ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10312135 · 2010-02-19 (February 19, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE ALSO BECAME HARD TO CONTROL AT HIGHER SPEEDS BETWEEN 50 TO 70 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED 10 TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY AND IT WAS NOT MALFUNCTIONING. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,050.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10312135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10396717 · 2011-04-18 (April 18, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE TAILGATE LOCKING MECHANISM AND WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE TAILGATE INDEPENDENTLY UNLOCKED CAUSING ITEMS TO FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL TAILGATE LOCKING MECHANISMS FAILED AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK THE TAILGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE HINGES ON THE TAILGATE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL OF THE HINGES AND LATCHES BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10396717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10400619 · 2011-05-12 (May 12, 2011)
2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: THERE IS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. IT HAS BEEN FIXED BUT IT OCCURS AGAIN AND THEN HAVE TO GET IT FIX AGAIN. DUE TO FAULTY A WIRING HARNESS THAT COULD FAIL AND PREVENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, IT IS DANGEROUS FOR ME, MY KIDS, OR ANYONE THAT OWNS OR DRIVES A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10400619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226195 · 2008-04-24 (April 24, 2008)
2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION ARE POSITIONED IN REVERSE, IF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS ON A DOWNWARD SLOPE. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE HILL HOLDER FEATURE DOESN'T WORK ON A DOWNWARD SLOPE. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10226195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324051 · 2010-04-06 (April 6, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AS SHE MADE A LEFT TURN. SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT CONTINUED TO STALL AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE POLICE WERE AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REP…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,866 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446270 · 2012-02-02 (February 2, 2012)
VALVE SPRINGS. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. I MANAGED TO STEER ACROSS 4 LANES OF FAST TRAFFIC TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS PISTON FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED 140 MILES TO MOTORCARS TOYOTA FOR REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED: "A VALVE SPRING ON THE #2 CYLINDER BROKE IN FRONT HEAD AND DROPPED INTO THE # 2 CYLINDER, DESTROYING THE PISTON AND SEVERELY DAMAGING THE SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY. BLOCK HAD A HOLE IN IT AND #2 PISTON WAS BROKEN IN HALF". RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223935 · 2008-04-04 (April 4, 2008)
2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FUEL TANK DAMAGE. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT ACCEPT GAS WHEN TRYING TO FILL THE TANK. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE OVR VALVE AND CHARCOAL FILTER WERE DAMAGED. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10223935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10363417 · 2010-10-31 (October 31, 2010)
LEASED THE CAR NEW. ON THE ODOMETER IT HAD OVER 60 MILES REGISTERED. FROM THE FIRST DAY, THE VALVES WERE SOUNDING LOUDLY. THE VALVES ARE STILL SOUNDING LOUDLY, AT 15, 000 MILES. I INFORMED THE SERVICE DEPT, BUT REALLY NOTHING WAS DONE. WHEN WARMING UP THE CAR, WHEN I FIRST HAD IT, THE CAR WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. THE SERVICE DEPT. CORRECTED THIS. AT 15,000 MILES A FUEL INJECTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. SERVICE CONSULTANT STATES HE WILL CHECK THIS IN ONE YEAR. I WANTED TO KN…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363417 at NHTSA ↗